Independent Spirit Award for Best Film
The Independent Spirit Award for Best Film (or Best Feature) is one of the annual Independent Spirit Awards, presented to recognize the best in independent filmmaking, it was first awarded in 1985 with Martin Scorsese's film After Hours being the first recipient of the award.
Independent Spirit Award for Best Film | |
---|---|
Awarded for | Best Independent Film |
Country | United States |
Presented by | Film Independent |
First awarded | 1985 |
Currently held by | Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022) |
Website | filmindependent |
Criteria
In order to be considered as an independent film and therefore being eligible to this category, nomination committees base their decision on four criteria, "uniqueness of vision, original, provocative subject matter, percentage of financing from independent sources and economy of means"; the latter refers to a budget ceiling of $22.5 million.[1] In 2022, Film Independent increased the budget cap for eligible films to $30 million to account for the rising cost of production.[2]
In the following lists, the first titles listed are winners. These are also in bold and in blue background; those not in bold are nominees.
Winners and nominees
Notes
- ≠ indicates the winning film is also an Academy Award for Best Picture winner
- ° indicates the winning film is also an Academy Award for Best Picture nominee
1980s
1990s
2000s
2010s
2020s
Year | Winner | Distributing company(s) | Director(s) |
---|---|---|---|
2020 [26][27] | Nomadland≠ | Searchlight Pictures | Chloé Zhao |
First Cow | A24 | Kelly Reichardt | |
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom | Netflix | George C. Wolfe | |
Minari° | A24 | Lee Isaac Chung | |
Never Rarely Sometimes Always | Focus Features | Eliza Hittman | |
2021 [28] | The Lost Daughter | Netflix | Maggie Gyllenhaal |
A Chiara | Neon | Jonas Carpignano | |
C’mon C’mon | A24 | Mike Mills | |
The Novice | IFC Films | Lauren Hadaway | |
Zola | A24 | Janicza Bravo | |
2022 [29] |
Everything Everywhere All at Once≠ | A24 | Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert |
Bones and All | MGM/United Artists Releasing | Luca Guadagnino | |
Our Father, the Devil | Resolve Media | Ellie Foumbi | |
Tár° | Focus Features | Todd Field | |
Women Talking° | MGM/United Artists Releasing | Sarah Polley |
Distributors with most wins and nominations (3 or more)
- Netflix - 3 (one win)
- A24 - 12 (three wins)
- Island Pictures - 3 (one win)
- Fox Searchlight/Searchlight Pictures - 17 (eight wins)
- Orion Pictures - 4 (one win)
- Columbia/Sony Pictures Classics - 20 (one win)
- The Weinstein Company - 4 (two wins)
- Miramax - 9 (three wins)
- Universal/Focus Features - 13 (four wins)
- Fine Line Features - 7 (two wins)
- IFC Films - 5 (no wins)
- Samuel Goldwyn - 8 (no wins)
- MGM/United Artists - 4 (1 win)
- Artisan Entertainment - 3 (no wins)
- New Line Cinema - 6 (one win)
- October Films - 7 (one win)
- Lionsgate - 7 (two wins)
- New Yorker Films - 3 (no wins)
- Warner Bros/Warner Independent Films - 3 (two wins)
- Paramount/Paramount Vantage - 5 (one win)
References
- "FAQ". Film Independent. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
- Hammond, Pete (2022-08-23). "Spirit Awards Set 2023 Date, Go Gender-Neutral And Increase Budget Cap". Deadline. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
- Film Independent Spirit Awards - 34 Years of Nominees and Winners
- "'The Limey,' 'Election' Got the Spirit". Hollywood.com. January 14, 2000. Retrieved August 17, 2012.
- "'Election' Elected by Spirit Awards". Hollywood.com. March 26, 2000. Retrieved August 17, 2012.
- "Tiger Takes 3 Spirit Awards". ABC News. March 24, 2001. Retrieved August 19, 2012.
- ""Memento" Has the Spirit". E! Online. March 23, 2002. Retrieved August 19, 2012.
- Hernandez, Eugene; Brooks, Brian (March 22, 2003). ""Far From Heaven" Sweeps 2003 Independent Spirit Awards". IndieWire. Retrieved August 20, 2012.
- Hernandez, Eugene (February 28, 2004). ""Lost In Translation" Tops Independent Spirit Awards, "Station Agent" Another Big Winner". IndieWire. Retrieved August 20, 2012.
- Hernandez, Eugene (February 28, 2005). "Sideways Wins Six at Independent Spirit Awards". IndieWire. Retrieved August 21, 2012.
- Germain, David (March 4, 2006). "'Brokeback' named best independent film". USA Today. Retrieved August 21, 2012.
- McNary, Dave (February 24, 2007). "'Sunshine' brightens Spirit Awards". Variety. Retrieved August 21, 2012.
- Siegel, Tatiana (February 23, 2008). "'Juno' tops Spirit Awards". Variety. Retrieved August 22, 2012.
- Brooks, Brian (February 21, 2009). ""The Wrestler" Leads 2009 Spirit Award Winners". IndieWire. Retrieved August 25, 2012.
- Breznican, Anthony (March 6, 2010). "'Precious' dominates Spirit Awards with 5 prizes". USA Today. Retrieved August 25, 2012.
- Knegt, Peter (February 27, 2011). ""Black Swan" Lead Spirit Award Winners". IndieWire. Retrieved August 25, 2012.
- McNary, Dave (February 25, 2012). "'The Artist' dominates Spirit Awards". Variety. Retrieved August 26, 2012.
- "Independent Spirit Awards 2013: Winners List". The Hollywood Reporter. February 23, 2013. Retrieved February 23, 2013.
- Atkinson, Katie. "Independent Spirit Awards 2014: The winners list". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
- "Spirit Awards 2015: The Complete Winners List". The Hollywood Reporter. February 21, 2015. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
- "Spirit Awards 2016: Complete Winners List". Variety. February 27, 2016. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
- Earl, William (February 26, 2017). "2017 Independent Spirit Awards: Full Winners List". IndieWire. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
- Nyren, Erin (March 3, 2018). "2018 Independent Spirit Awards: Winners List (Updating Live)". Variety. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
- Welk, Brian (February 24, 2019). "Independent Spirit Awards 2019: Complete Winners List". TheWrap. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
- D'Alessandro, Anthony; Blyth, Antonia (February 8, 2020). "Independent Spirit Awards Redresses Female Balance With Wins For Lulu Wang, Olivia Wilde & Julia Reichert – Complete Winners List". Deadline. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
- Grobar, Matt (April 22, 2021). "'Nomadland' Wins Independent Spirit Awards For Best Picture, Director, Editing & Cinematography, Further Solidifying Oscars Prospects". Deadline. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
- Sharf, Zack (April 23, 2021). "2021 Independent Spirit Awards Winner's List". IndieWire. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
- Long, Brent; Tangcay, Jazz (December 14, 2021). "Indie Spirit Awards 2022: Full List of Nominations". Variety. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
- Davis, Clayton (November 22, 2022). "Independent Spirit Awards Nominations: 'Everything Everywhere' Leads With Eight Noms". Variety. Retrieved November 22, 2022.